The United States Air Force launched airstrikes this week targeting a former American military base in eastern Syria, in a move that underscores rising tensions between the United States and Iranian-backed militias entrenched in the region. The strike, which follows the withdrawal of US forces from strategic oil and gas fields in Deir ez-Zor province, highlights a new phase in the ongoing regional contest over control and influence in war-torn Syria.
According to US defense officials, the airstrikes were conducted against infrastructure now believed to be occupied by elements of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and allied militias, after American troops withdrew as part of an operational realignment. The former base, which had served as a hub for US-led coalition operations against the Islamic State and the containment of Iranian expansion, was one of several outposts that American forces have vacated in recent weeks amid persistent drone and rocket attacks by Iranian-affiliated factions.
The US Department of Defense described the mission as an act of self-defense, aimed at thwarting imminent attacks on US and partner forces still operating in Syria and neighboring Iraq. Anonymous senior officials noted that the strike was part of a broader campaign to degrade the capabilities of Iranian proxies and deter further aggression. The Pentagon reaffirmed its commitment to maintain a presence with coalition partners in the region, focusing on counterterrorism and stability operations, despite an evolving and increasingly hostile environment.
The withdrawal from these sites marks a significant shift for US policy in eastern Syria. Since 2015, American military deployments in Syria—centered on key oil and gas installations in Deir ez-Zor and Hasakah—were intended to deny these resources to terror organizations and to prevent the establishment of an Iranian-controlled corridor from Tehran to the Mediterranean. As the Syrian conflict dragged on, and Iranian-backed groups extended their influence, the US presence served as both a tactical deterrent and a means of leveraging energy interests for broader strategic stability.
However, following intensified attacks by Iranian-aligned militias, and in the shadow of the Iron Swords War—triggered by the unprecedented Hamas massacre of October 7, 2023—the US has recalibrated its force posture. The October 7th attack, in which Hamas terrorists murdered more than 1,200 Israelis and abducted hundreds, was the deadliest antisemitic atrocity since the Holocaust, catalyzing a surge in Iranian aggression through its regional proxies, including those operating from Syria.
Israeli analysts warn that the consolidation of Iranian-backed militias in eastern Syria poses a growing danger not only to US troops and local residents but also to Israel’s national security. Tehran’s strategy, articulated by senior IRGC leadership, seeks to establish a permanent presence across the Levant, arming and directing a network of terror organizations such as Hezbollah and Hamas, and leveraging Syrian territory to threaten Israel’s northern and eastern frontiers.
The vacated American bases have reportedly been swiftly occupied by IRGC forces and their allies, according to local monitoring groups and opposition activists. These militias have converted strategic sites into launching pads for drone and rocket attacks against both US and Israeli targets. Satellite imagery and open-source intelligence suggest an acceleration in the construction of fortified positions near the oil fields, and a redeployment of military hardware smuggled through the Iraqi border.
The ongoing American withdrawal has raised concerns among regional partners and within the Israeli defense establishment. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir emphasized in recent briefings that control of eastern Syria by Iranian proxies enables Tehran to funnel advanced weaponry to Hezbollah in Lebanon and to Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Gaza, thereby increasing the risk of a coordinated, multi-front war against Israel.
Israel, facing daily rocket fire from the north and south, has stepped up its own air operations in Syria to pre-empt the transfer of strategic weaponry and prevent further entrenchment by Iranian forces. Israeli military officials, working in concert with US intelligence, have repeatedly targeted key logistical hubs, arms convoys, and militia command centers to disrupt Iranian plans. The Iron Dome and other Israeli defense systems remain on high alert as hostilities escalate across the broader Levant.
From a humanitarian perspective, the turbulence in eastern Syria compounds an already dire situation for local civilians. Years of conflict, occupation by terror groups, and the destruction of infrastructure have left millions without reliable access to essential services, food, or medical care. The entry of additional armed groups into vacated bases heightens the risk of renewed displacement and further suffering.
The international community has struggled to forge a coherent response to Iran’s destabilizing actions. While the United Nations has condemned attacks on coalition and Israeli targets, progress towards a durable solution has been hampered by disagreements among Security Council members and persistent Russian and Chinese support for the Assad regime and its partners. In the region, Arab governments—especially Egypt, Jordan, and Gulf states—share the concern over unchecked Iranian expansion, but coordination remains limited and fragile.
For the United States, the next steps are fraught with complexity. Some policymakers advocate for a robust re-engagement to prevent an Iranian takeover of strategic terrain and resources, while others press for further disengagement amid shifting global security priorities. The Biden administration has reiterated its support for Israel’s right of self-defense and the need to counter terrorism—but the pace and scope of future operations in Syria remain under review.
Amid these challenges, the events in eastern Syria serve as a stark reminder of the stakes at play in the broader struggle between Western-led coalitions and the Iranian-led Axis of Resistance. The base struck by US aircraft is not merely a plot of land; it is a symbol of the contest to shape the Middle East’s future, where the security of Israel and the stability of the region hang in the balance. As American and Israeli leaders coordinate their next moves, and Iranian proxies consolidate their gains, the world watches closely, aware that the battle for Syria is part of a much wider and existential conflict.
